Effects and molecular mechanisms of Achyranthes bidentata Blume and Cyathula officinalis K.C. Kuan in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Achyranthes bidentata Blume (ABB; Chinese name: Huai Niuxi) and Cyathula officinalis K.C.Kuan (COK; Chinese name: Chuan Niuxi), two botanical drugs collectively termed “Niuxi” in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), are widely used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management. This review comprehensively...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Liu-Bo Zhang, Yu Yan, Wen-Wen Lian, Wei Zhou, Cong-Yuan Xia, Jun He, Yuan Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1619776/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849709283930800128
author Liu-Bo Zhang
Liu-Bo Zhang
Yu Yan
Wen-Wen Lian
Wei Zhou
Cong-Yuan Xia
Jun He
Yuan Xu
author_facet Liu-Bo Zhang
Liu-Bo Zhang
Yu Yan
Wen-Wen Lian
Wei Zhou
Cong-Yuan Xia
Jun He
Yuan Xu
author_sort Liu-Bo Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Achyranthes bidentata Blume (ABB; Chinese name: Huai Niuxi) and Cyathula officinalis K.C.Kuan (COK; Chinese name: Chuan Niuxi), two botanical drugs collectively termed “Niuxi” in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), are widely used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management. This review comprehensively summarized the pharmacological mechanisms and therapeutic potential of the metabolites of ABB and COK on RA, while addressing limitations of current evidence. Of the 314 and 185 metabolites contained in ABB and COK, respectively, 22 metabolites (including Chikusetsusaponin V and chikusetsusaponin Ⅳa), showed multiple anti-RA activities. The mechanisms underlying the effects of ABB and COK with respect to the occurrence and development of RA (including inflammatory processes, immunoregulation, fibroblast-like synoviocytes, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, cartilage degradation, and bone destruction) were evaluated (Graphical Abstract). Numerous signaling pathways, such as the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), are involved in RA. The metabolites contained in ABB and COK have significant medicinal value and potential in the treatment of RA, while in-depth mechanism studies and clinical research are warranted to support the clinical application of these metabolites.
format Article
id doaj-art-06cdf57c9fe346b29601f8d2cce1dc73
institution DOAJ
issn 1663-9812
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pharmacology
spelling doaj-art-06cdf57c9fe346b29601f8d2cce1dc732025-08-20T03:15:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-07-011610.3389/fphar.2025.16197761619776Effects and molecular mechanisms of Achyranthes bidentata Blume and Cyathula officinalis K.C. Kuan in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritisLiu-Bo Zhang0Liu-Bo Zhang1Yu Yan2Wen-Wen Lian3Wei Zhou4Cong-Yuan Xia5Jun He6Yuan Xu7National Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of TCM Rheumatism, Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Rheumatology, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaNational Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of TCM Rheumatism, Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaNational Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of TCM Rheumatism, Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaNational Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of TCM Rheumatism, Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaNational Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of TCM Rheumatism, Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaNational Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of TCM Rheumatism, Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaNational Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of TCM Rheumatism, Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaAchyranthes bidentata Blume (ABB; Chinese name: Huai Niuxi) and Cyathula officinalis K.C.Kuan (COK; Chinese name: Chuan Niuxi), two botanical drugs collectively termed “Niuxi” in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), are widely used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management. This review comprehensively summarized the pharmacological mechanisms and therapeutic potential of the metabolites of ABB and COK on RA, while addressing limitations of current evidence. Of the 314 and 185 metabolites contained in ABB and COK, respectively, 22 metabolites (including Chikusetsusaponin V and chikusetsusaponin Ⅳa), showed multiple anti-RA activities. The mechanisms underlying the effects of ABB and COK with respect to the occurrence and development of RA (including inflammatory processes, immunoregulation, fibroblast-like synoviocytes, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, cartilage degradation, and bone destruction) were evaluated (Graphical Abstract). Numerous signaling pathways, such as the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), are involved in RA. The metabolites contained in ABB and COK have significant medicinal value and potential in the treatment of RA, while in-depth mechanism studies and clinical research are warranted to support the clinical application of these metabolites.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1619776/fullrheumatoid arthritisAchyranthes bidentata BlumeCyathula officinalis K.C.Kuanpharmacologypharmacokinetics
spellingShingle Liu-Bo Zhang
Liu-Bo Zhang
Yu Yan
Wen-Wen Lian
Wei Zhou
Cong-Yuan Xia
Jun He
Yuan Xu
Effects and molecular mechanisms of Achyranthes bidentata Blume and Cyathula officinalis K.C. Kuan in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
Frontiers in Pharmacology
rheumatoid arthritis
Achyranthes bidentata Blume
Cyathula officinalis K.C.Kuan
pharmacology
pharmacokinetics
title Effects and molecular mechanisms of Achyranthes bidentata Blume and Cyathula officinalis K.C. Kuan in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
title_full Effects and molecular mechanisms of Achyranthes bidentata Blume and Cyathula officinalis K.C. Kuan in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
title_fullStr Effects and molecular mechanisms of Achyranthes bidentata Blume and Cyathula officinalis K.C. Kuan in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
title_full_unstemmed Effects and molecular mechanisms of Achyranthes bidentata Blume and Cyathula officinalis K.C. Kuan in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
title_short Effects and molecular mechanisms of Achyranthes bidentata Blume and Cyathula officinalis K.C. Kuan in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
title_sort effects and molecular mechanisms of achyranthes bidentata blume and cyathula officinalis k c kuan in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
topic rheumatoid arthritis
Achyranthes bidentata Blume
Cyathula officinalis K.C.Kuan
pharmacology
pharmacokinetics
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1619776/full
work_keys_str_mv AT liubozhang effectsandmolecularmechanismsofachyranthesbidentatablumeandcyathulaofficinaliskckuaninthetreatmentofrheumatoidarthritis
AT liubozhang effectsandmolecularmechanismsofachyranthesbidentatablumeandcyathulaofficinaliskckuaninthetreatmentofrheumatoidarthritis
AT yuyan effectsandmolecularmechanismsofachyranthesbidentatablumeandcyathulaofficinaliskckuaninthetreatmentofrheumatoidarthritis
AT wenwenlian effectsandmolecularmechanismsofachyranthesbidentatablumeandcyathulaofficinaliskckuaninthetreatmentofrheumatoidarthritis
AT weizhou effectsandmolecularmechanismsofachyranthesbidentatablumeandcyathulaofficinaliskckuaninthetreatmentofrheumatoidarthritis
AT congyuanxia effectsandmolecularmechanismsofachyranthesbidentatablumeandcyathulaofficinaliskckuaninthetreatmentofrheumatoidarthritis
AT junhe effectsandmolecularmechanismsofachyranthesbidentatablumeandcyathulaofficinaliskckuaninthetreatmentofrheumatoidarthritis
AT yuanxu effectsandmolecularmechanismsofachyranthesbidentatablumeandcyathulaofficinaliskckuaninthetreatmentofrheumatoidarthritis